those kind of hedge trimmers are pretty light and safe. I've seen battery powered ones. come on mom, be cool he won't hurt himself and he is willing to do the chores then
AGAINST ALL THE WILD GRASS THE YARD CAN NURTURE
ALL THE OVERGROWN THE HEDGE LINES CAN PRODUCE
WE WILL SEND UNTO THEM... ONLY YOU
TRIM, AND PRUNE... UNTIL IT'S DONE!
I remember using a hedge trimmer like the one shown here to trim the cypress hedges (& other bushes) back at the home I grew up in. This chapter gave me a bit of a nostalgia trip, which was nice.